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Configuration (7.00)
Like other dye sublimation printers, the HiTi 731PS uses plastic ribbon cartridges for its ink source. One long roll of ribbon is coated with 4-by-6, 5-by-7, or 6-by-8-sized color sections for each ink layer that the prints receive. HiTi sells these ribbons in printer packs with enough paper to consume the ink in the ribbon—15-sheet, 30-sheet, and 60-sheet packs, depending on the paper size.
Each ribbon is specific to the paper size it prints on, so if users are switching between sizes a lot, this may become annoying. Fortunately, the ribbons are easy to switch and don’t dry out like liquid ink cartridges can.
Value (3.00)
The cheapest price per print attainable with the 731pS is 36 cents per print with the bulk, 720-sheet, 4-by-6-inch paper print pack. With the smaller size packs, 4-by-6-inch prints cost 40 cents per print, 5-by-7-inch prints cost 60 cents each, and 6-by-8-inch prints cost 80 cents each.
This is pricier than almost any other dye sub we’ve looked at. Purchasing the closest print pack in size (50 sheets) for the Canon Selphy ES1 will cost 30 cents per print, 6 cents less than the HiTi 731PS’s bulk pack and 10 cents less than the 60-sheet pack. Purchasing the ES1’s 108-sheet pack brings the cost per print down to 28 cents each. Sony’s 40-sheet pack for the DPP-FP90 costs more per print than the 731PS, at 50 cents, but larger print packs can be purchased bringing it more in line with the competition—39 cents per print for the 80-sheet pack and 29 cents per print for the 120-sheet pack.
Ink Management (4.00)
With their ink / paper packs, dye sub printers have little need for ink monitoring in the driver or on the printer’s menu. The printer will warn the user, via the driver or the menu, if the ink cartridge is used up or if it is mismatched to the size of paper.
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